The NIOSH funded Sunshine Education and Research Center at the University of South Florida provides grant funding to support pilot research projects in Occupational and Environmental Safety and Health each year.

The Sunshine ERC Pilot Research Project Grant program is designed to promote partnerships with other institutions and groups in Florida and the region and to encourage research in occupational safety and health areas that are important to the region. The Pilot Research Project Grant program is intended to act as seed money for preliminary studies in support of larger research grant applications. Grants are intended for doctoral level graduate students, junior faculty, and senior faculty who are performing research in a new area. Each grant is a one-time award.